As a writer, I love history. It is amazing to hear how different things were and to be reminded how much we take for granted. I respect his openness and the courage it takes to speak about a lifestyle to which many people are still so opposed. Love, Heath & Happiness to all who read this-- whether or not we agree on POVs.💝💫☺

It's quite something that some reviewers leave remarks like, "Ew gross THATS why sodomy was illegal, no wonder," without taking a moment for the weight of the obvious to fall squarely on top of their delicate cranium - queer men such as the subject of this piece took measures to secretly and anonymously engage in sexual activity precisely BECAUSE sodomy was illegal.

The subjects recounting of the behavior of some people of a certain group in one place at a particular point in time does not represent the group broadly, however even if it were perfectly representative the behavior makes absolute sense in the violently oppressive context of the time.

It is also remarkable that an individual would go out of their way to spread tired and frankly ineffective conservative rhetoric for no reason at all, namely the "reviewer" who gos on about those preaching tolerance being the least tolerant among us. Repeating that sentence over and over does not make it true, but there is no longer any socially acceptable argument to justify bigoted behavior related to certain groups of people like homosexual men, and so we are left listening to the overplayed death rattle that sounds something like, "How dare you not tolerate me not tolerating you, THAT isn't tolerant now is it! Hah!"

Four stars for the insight provided by this interview with an elder queer from a generation passed by, though it should be remembered to be taken as only one man's story and not a definitive history, then five stars for the raspy dying gasps of the "moral majority" and its hypocritical rule by bigotry. What snowflakes, that lot.

Absolutely fabulous

this guy was confused about everything, constantly played the victim role and joined every group he came across (no pun intended) whether it was communists, indians, hippies...and on and on.

so he was gay...who cares. they always need a headline to feel important. plenty of people dont care and some celebrate it but thats never enough. everyone MUST like everything gay people do or stand for and if you dont you get labeled something that ends with -ist or -phobe.

those fighting for tolerance are always the most intolerant.

I loved this guy! It really is super to hear those who came before us, discuss what it was like to be gay. I just wish this had been longer!! And kudos to the filmmaker for recording this for posterity.

*review deleted by reviewer*

thats awesome that this guy is talking about this

It’s so terrific to hear older gay men discuss life well before Stonewall. Congratulations to the folks who collected this oral history. Also, it’s so sad to read the bigoted remarks left by other viewers. So many people think its fine to express unbridled bigotry against gay men and lesbians. They are the same sort who expressed ignorant bigotry against African Americans in the past.

Mr. Hay talks about how Oral was better then Oral, just because the UNDERWEAR WAS SO CUMBERSOME BACK THEN. Unbuttoning the BVDS was such a chore! (clucks tongue)

technology is not all eletronic!!!

fedg

Wow...no wonder sodomy was illegal.

I'm uncertain as to exactly what this film is all about.
First off, even school-age children are most certainly aware, reproduction can't arise from the sole act of having someone's nuts in your mouth.
Furthermore, I don't find the inappropriate use
of lederhosen amusing in the least, and neither should you.

Finally, a stark question posed in the film remains unanswered: Who was the mystery composer of the film's upbeat title song: "Cork me up the reamer, Milfred!" ?